To the edge of the map

Barry Mazur

pp. 389-401

in: Shyam Wuppuluri, Francisco A. Doria (eds), The map and the territory, Berlin, Springer, 2018

Abstract

The title—Map and Territory—that Shyam Iyengar chose for this volume is, of course, rich in possible interpretations. The word map suggests any contrivance—perhaps of ephemeral utility—meant to model the geography of any territory. I'll take the title to be an invitation to write about the manner in which we fashion structures of thought—the "maps,'—in order to understand, and negotiate our way through, whatever realm it is that encompasses the objects of our thought—the "territories.'